Plain Language Summary: Accessibility to Biosphere Reserves for people with disabilities.

By Berta Martín-López, Klara Johanna Winkler, and Aleksandra Kosanic.

Read the full paper here.

Nature contributes to human physical and mental well-being in numerous ways. Nevertheless, access to nature is still not evenly distributed among different groups in society. Although the United Nations has already recognised the human right to a healthy environment for all, equitable access to nature is still missing for people with disabilities, a group that comprises 16% of the World’s population.

Biosphere Reserves serve as model areas for the sustainable development of humans and nature, providing sustainable use of natural resources, ecosystem benefits and more equitable conservation strategies. In this perspective piece, we are starting a conversation on the accessibility of nature for people with disabilities. To do so, we performed an internet search on disability measures in 167 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in 18 countries in the UNESCO regional group of Europe and North America. We found accessibility to be considered as at least one measure across 58% of Biosphere Reserves. However, the main focus of the measures is on accessibility in relation to physical disability and their access to infrastructure. Nonetheless, we also highlighted a variety of different measures that do exist throughout Biosphere Reserves to provide access to different needs and disabilities.

Our aim in this perspective piece is to illustrate challenges and highlight the possibilities that exist in order to make access to nature more equitable and just for all. Access to nature for people with disabilities should be our societal priority. To achieve this, it is essential to understand the diverse needs of different disabilities and consider plural measures.